Electric motor-vehicle.



- v PATENTED 0G1.1'8','l904. H. P. MAXIM, H.-M. POPE & -H. w. ALDEN.

ELECTRIC MOTOR VEHICLE.

. urmouron rum: 8E1T.24, m7. 4 y no MODEL. a snnnmsf-snnnrr 1 772,'571.. v PATENTBD OCT. 18, 1904. H. P. MAXIM, H. M. POPE.& H. W. ALDEN.

ELECTRIC MOTORYVEHIGLE.

, APPLICATION FILED BEPT. 24, 18 97. NO MODEL. l 8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' No. 772.571. v PATENTED OCT. 18, 1904.

3,1". MAXIM, H. MfPOPB-z H. w. ALDEN. 4

ELECTRIC MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLIOATION FILED snr'r. 24, 1897. no 110mm, I

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 772,571. I PIATENTED 007. 18, 1904.. H. P. MAXIM, M. POPE & H. W. ALDEN.

. ELECTRIC MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1897. N0 MODEL. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 4- No. 772,571; 7 PATENTED OCT. 18, 1904. H. PIMAXIM, H.- .M. POPE ,& H,- W.- ALDEN.

ELECTRIC MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED 811212 24, 1897.

. N0 MODEL.

No. 772,571. 'PATBNTED 001". 18, 1904.

' 'H. P. MAXIM, H. M. POPB.& H. w. ALDEN.

ELEGTRIG MOTOR VEHICLE.

. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1897. NO MODEP.

8 BHEETSSKEET-6- No. 772.571. PAYTE'NTED 0011. 18.1904.

' H. P. MAXIM, H. M. POPE & H.'W ALDEN.

ELECTRIC MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1897. I

8 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

N0 MODEL.

P N 4 k C c il ..N.NPP PNFNPN fimwkwi ok RULRH 4 3.3.2 1 v QMM R SEE H w qmmmn 8.83 H F. nEM H n PATENTED 00w. 1a, 1904. H.'P..MAXIM, H. M. POPE & H. W. ALDEN.

ELEGTRIG MOT ORVEHIGLB. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1897.

e sums-sum 8.

no MODEL.

' I hventors I UNITED STATES Patented October 18, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

HIRAM PERCY MAXIM, HARRY M. OPE, AND HERBERT W. ALDEN, or HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNR ASSIGNMENTS, To MoRToN TRUST COMPANY, TRUSTEE, A ooRPoRAT1oN or NEW. YORK.

ELECTRIC MOTOR-VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 7 72,57 1, dated October 18, 1904. Application filed September 24, 1897. Serial No. 652,858- (No model.)

Tod/ll whom it may concern: Be it known that we, HIRAM PERCY MAXIM,

HARRY M. Porn, and HERBERT W. ALDEN,

citizens-of the United States, and residents 'of the city and county of Hartford, State of Oonnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Motor-Vehi cles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had. to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof. This invention relates especially to electrical appliances pertaining to the propulsion of motor-vehicles of the general character and description of those shown and described in applications for Letters 'Patent of the United States of Hiram .Percy Maxim, filed .Tu'neS, 1896, Serial No. 594,058, and May 3, 1897, Serial N 0. 634,841, and has for its particular object the improvement of such appliances with reference to the requirements of their use in such vehicles; but nevertheless the improvements to be described hereinafter may be applied in whole or in part to other particular uses than that referred tofandconsequently, except as hereinafter indicated, our invention is not to be restricted to the particular use referred to.-

One purpose which .we have had prominently in view has been the production of apparatus which can be operated, managed, and cared for by inexperienced and even unintelligent persons without danger of injury to themselves or to others or to the apparatus or to the vehicle to which it may be applied, and we have also sought to overcome as far as possible allof the defects in other apparatus of like general nature so far as they have become known to us.

In part our invention relates to the system of wiring or connections between the storage battery or other source of electrical energy and the motor and their adjuncts; in part to themeans for connecting Various portions of theelectricalapparatus and for connecting the storage battery when employed to the the possibility of improper connections; in

'partto the provisions for recharging with a view to effectingautomatically the interruption of the supply when the batteries are fully charged; inpart to the controlling devices with a View to enabling the speed of the mo- The several features of our invention will be more particularly described hereinafter with reference'to the accompanying drawings, 1n which- Figure l is a diagrammatic representation:

.of the various electrical connections, the body of a suitable vehicle being represented in dotted lines to show the general relationof the electrical connections with respect thereto.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the vehiclebody in front of the seat or box, showing the ends of two battery-boxes, a recording-watt meter, switches for lights for various portions of the Vehicle, the controller and partof its 1 connections and a portion of the actuating.

mechanism of the controller, including the",

actuating-lever in its relation to the seatoffi the vehicle.

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively an end elevation and a plan View of one of the battery-boxes, two of the cells beingrep:

resented as uncovered in Fig. i. Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a plan view of'a portion of the vehicle-body with the storage battery in position thereon to Show the connections of the several batteryboxes. Fig. 7 is a rear end view of the same, the bottom of the Vehicle-body being indicated in section. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the plug for connecting the supply-cable to the storage battery for recharging; Fig. 9 is a detail view of the automatic cut-out switch for interrupting the supply when the battery is fully charged. Fig. 10 is a detail view, on asmaller scale than Fig. 9 and partlydiagrammatic, to show the relation of the cut-out switch to the charging-plug when the latter is in position and its members in contact with the terminals of the wiring system. Fig. 11 is a plan view of one form of the emergency or safety switch or cut-out. Fig. 12 is an elevation of the same in position on the side of the vehicle-seat. Fig. 13 represents in elevation and longitudinal section one of the terminals of a battery-box. Fig. 1 1 is a side view of one of the single plugs for making contact with the terminal shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a front elevation of the controller and its immediate connections and appurtenances, with the adjacent portions of the vehicle box or seat shown in section, the reversing mechanism being removed. Fig. 16 is an end view of the same, also with the adjacent portions of the vehicle box or seat in section. Fig. 17 is a detail view in section, on a larger scale, of the cylinder of the controller to show the contacts thereon. Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic development of the cylinder of the controller to show the relation of the contacts carried thereby to the various terminals, the latter also being indicated. Fig. 19 is a detail View in side elevation of the reversing mechanism. Figs. 20 to 23 are diagrammaticviews showing the connections of the battery to the motor for difl'erent speeds. Fig. 2a is a detail end View, partly in section, showing, on a larger scale, one of the terminals of the controller and its supports.

In order to enable the relations of the various parts of the apparatus to be more readily understood, we will first describe the general arrangement or system of electrical connections, referring particularly to Fig. 1, in which such connections are represented diagrammatically and conventionally, and for convenience some of the parts referred to will be identified by the initial letters of the names of such parts or in a similar manner. The positive and negative chargingterminals are represented, respectively, at TP and TN. From the positive terminal Tl suitable connections are provided for the pas sage of the current through the four batteryboxes which are indicated in the drawing. The several connections both of the controller and of the boxes being suitably indicated at BlP, (box 1 positive,) BlN, (box 1 negative,) ClN, (controller 1 negative,) CQP, B21 BQN, CQN, C31 B31 B3N, (JZBN, C41, 1341, B LN, (box 4: negative.) From B LN a connection is continued through C TN and by a branch to MEl, which is the first binding-post of the recording-wattmeter. From MEI the circuit is continued through the coils of the ammeter to ME5 or binding-post 5 of the wattmeter and thence to CO1 (cut-out 1) of the automatic cut-out switch over the blade of the switch to CO3, and so to negative charging-terminal TN. The wattmeter need not be described in detail herein, since its construction and arrangement formnopart of our present invention and may be as usual or preferred; but the pointer or indicator 1ND thereof is arranged to operate or to act as a circuit-closer to complete a shuntcircuit when the pointer or indicator has moved to its extreme position, indicating that the required amount of current has passed and that the battery is fully charged. This shuntcircuit is derived from a branch from the positive terminal TP, which enters the wattmeter at ME?) and has two branches. the right-hand branch passing to the cut-out contact 0001, from which the shunt-circuit is completed by the indicator IND to cut-out contact OUQ, and thence by MET to CO9. and through the magnet there represented to the blade of the knife-switch, and so to the negative chargingterminal TN; but as the magnet is energized the blade of the switch is released and the circuit is broken, interrupting the current-supply to the battery, as well as the shunt, through the meter from C001 to C002.

The left-hand branch from M193 oi the shun tcircuit above mentioned is carried through a suitable resistance and thence through the voltmeter and meets the main circuit from the ammeter at MET), the circuit being completed to TN through 001 and CO3 of the cut-out switch. \Vhen the vehicle is in readiness for use, current is also supplied to the armature of the wattmeter from the emergency-switch, hereinafter referred to, by a branch from E81 to M1 12 and thence to the volt-meter through the resistance above referred to.

Except for the branch last above described the conections previously re't'erred'to are operative during the charging of the battery. The connections which become operative during the discharging of the battery and the operation of the motor will now be described, it being premised that by the operation of the controller the several boxes of the battery can be coupled up in parallel or with two boxes in series and the two sets in parallel or with the four boxes in series and that the two fields of the motor can be coupled up in series or in parallel, according to the speed desired. Assuming that the current starts from B11, its course may be traced through the contacts ES3 and ESQ of the emergencyswitch and thence to the reversing-switch, which in going ahead it enters at S11 and leaves at SAN, whence it passes to MAN, which is the negative terminal of the motorarmature. From MAP, which is the positive terminal of the motor-arnmture,it returns to the reversing switch at SAP, leaving again at 'SFZN. Thence it passes to MFQN, which is the negative terminal of one field of the motor. From the positive terminal M F21 of the same field it passes through the controller at CF21 and CF IN to the negative terminal of the other field at MFlN. From the positive terminal MFLP of the same lield vehicle. 'ling the battery-boxes and the fields of the it passes tothe wattmeter at ME5 and over the coils of the same in thereverse direction from the charging-current, thereby revers ing the movement of the indicator and showing what quantity of electrical energy remams in the'battery to MEI, and thence backto. the battery at B iNflvhile the desired connecmotorin series or in parallel will be more fully described hereinafter in connection with the description of the controller itself.

The positive and negative chargingterm i nals are preferably arrangedas presented in Fig. 10-, in which they are shown as metallic contact-pieces seated in a shield of insulating material and having each a tapering seatfor the reception of the corresponding plug from the supply-cable. The seats are of different diameters, andthe corresponding plugs of the cable are likewise of different. diameters, so

that the positive plug will fit only in the, seat of thepositive terminal and the negative plug. will fit only in the seat of the negative terminal, thereby preventing absolutely any possi.

bility of a wrong connection for recharging. Obviously these plugs might be formed or arranged in any convenient manner, one form being shown clearly in Fig. 8. It consists of handle a, of insulating material, to which is secured a bar or blade at, of insulating material, which supports at opposite ends the plugs a? and a, the outer ends of said plugs being tapered and. of different diameters, as already. stated, to fit in the corresponding terminals of the wiring system of the vehicle- The wires from the cable, as a and a are preferably introduced through the handle a,-being thoroughly insulated and are attached, respectively, to theplugs (1, and (0 as at a and a.

The cut-out switch above referredto may be arranged in many different ways to accomplish the desired purpose, one, construction beingrepresented clearly in Fig. 9 and on a smaller scale in Fig. 10. As there'represented,

theblade B of the knife-switch is pivoted, as at b, and isnormally pressed in a direction to break the circuit by a suitablespring Z). The blade is held in position to connect the two main circuit contacts. CO1 and CO8 by the armature b of the magnet included at CO but when the magnet is energized by the movement of the indicator of the wattmeter to a point which shows that the battery is fully charged the armature b is attracted and the blade Bis released to break the circuit between GOl and CO3, and thereby interrupt the supplyof current to the battery, as Well through CO2 and the main circuit or terminal CO3, which if closed would short-circuit the charging-terminals and might damage parts.

The emergency-switch heretoforereferred to is located at one side of the seat of the vehicle in a convenient position to be controlled by the operator, and its function is to provide for an absolute-breaking of the circuit between the battery and the motor in case of 'as to break the connection between the shunt any accident, such as a short-circuiting or a breaking down of the controller, and also to render it impossible for any unauthorized person to start the vehicle,.the plug of the switch being for this latter reason made bodily removable, it being the. intention that the oper' ator shall take it with him if he has occasion 'to leave the vehicle.

A convenient and practical form of emergency-switch is shown at G in Figs. 11 and 12, in which the ends of the wires are brought, as at 0 0, to the respective terminal pieces 0 0 which are separated by {a suitable space andform between themselves .a seat for the reception of the plug 0, which bridges the space between the two terminals 0 c 'and completes the circuit, while the removal of the plug absolutely and positively interrupts the circuit between the battery and the motor.\ When the plug 0 is pressed home in its seat, it comes in contact with the terminal c of the branch, heretofore referred to, which supplies current to the volt meter through the points E81 and ME2.

Each battery-box D, as represented in Figs.

2, 8, and 4, is'preferably a well-made wooden box' with dovetailed joints throughout and adapted to receive the cells D. The .positive and negative terminals d and cl, respectively, are substantially alike in" construction, consisting, as shown in Fig. 13-, of a suitable me- .tallic piece adapted to be secured tothe box and having a tapering seat; but the seats in the two terminals are of different diameters, and the two terminals are unsymmetrically disposed with respect to the central'plane ofthe box, one being nearer the edge of the box than the other. The plugs by which the connections between the boxes and the controller are made are represented in general in Fig. 1 1, the shank 01 being at right angle to the plug member D which is tapered to fit the respective terminal andis of adiameter to'fit only in the correspond ing terminal, so that it is impossible to make a wrong connection. The unsymmetrical re- .lation of the terminals is also an absolutely effective safeguard against improper connections through carelessness in placing the boxes improperly in the body of the wagon, since it is impossible in any manner to bring the terminals of one box into contact with the terminals of another box. As an additional safeguard against improper connections-the wires to which the two plugs D for the terminals d and d of each pair are connected are made of unequal length from the fixed points at which they are secured to the corresponding terminal and it being impossible for the plug with the shorter wire to reach the more remote terminal. The terminal d is connected by a conductor d to acontact-plate cl", which is secured to the upper edge of the box, being inserted in a piece 61''. From this plate connection is made to the proper element of the adjacent cell. The other terminal, cl, is connected similarly by a conductor (Z to a conductor (Z which is sunk in a groove d in the upper edge of the corresponding side of the box, so as to diminish the possibility of a short circuit between such connecting-strap and any of the intermediate cells of the box. At its farther end the conductor d is connected to a plate at d, which is secured and protected in the same manner as the plate d, above referred to.

It will be observed that the use of insulated conductors on the vehicle-body with flexible ends for connection to the boxes, avoids the danger hitherto existing that the walls, either top, bottom, or side, of the vehicle-body or other inclosure or compartment might be brought into circuit and set on fire.

The controller or device by means of which both the speed and the direction of movement of the motor, and therefore of the vehicle, are regulated by the operator is shown in its preferred relation to the vehicle-body in Fig. 2 of the drawings and in detail in Figs. 15 to 19, being located in the space or compartment, whether completely inclosed or not, beneath the vehicle-seat. It comprises a movable body E, preferably a cylinder or drum, either skeleton or otherwise, with contactblocks a mounted thereon and connected together in such a manner that in cooperation with the fixed terminals when shifted by the movement or rotation of the body or frame they shall effect the changes of electrical connection necessary for coupling the batteryboxes in parallel or in series or in parallel series and the fields of the motor in parallel or in series, as already alluded to, whereby the speed of the motor may be varied at will. The contacts 6 e, as will be observed, are supported above the surface of the cylindrical controller-body and, as clearly shown in Fig. 17, are provided, as may be required, with blocks 6' below the contact-head, which may be perforated to support the insulated connectingwires also above the surface of the cylindrical body, but below the surface of the contacts, whereby two or more sizes of contacts may be kept in stock and readily applied to the cylindrical controller-body, as may be required, together with the necessary connections, all of which may be thoroughly insulated before they are applied to the controller-body. In the construction shown in the drawings the drum E is mounted to rotate in suitable bearings E E, placed below the seat F of the vehicle, with its outer end in close proximity to the side F of the vehicle-body, so that the actuating mechanism therefor may also be placed close to the side of the vehicle-body, and therefore not only be in a position very convenient to the operator, but also in such a position that none of its parts shall obstruct the space within the vehicle-body intended for occupancy. As a convenient means for operating the controller its shaft is provided with a pinion e to be engaged by a gear-segment 7, which is carried by an arm 7', projecting from or sooured to the hub g of the operating-lever (i, which is pivoted near the end of the seat F, so that the path of movement thereof shall be in close proximity to the side or arm of the seat, and therefore shall not interfere with the free occupancy of the vehicle nor with a free ontrance to and exit therefrom, although it will be obvious that the lever may be located in any convenient position with respect to the seat. A star-wheel a or other similar device is likewise secured to the shaft of the controller-body and is engaged by a roller 0 carried by a spring-pressed arm 0. This device insures the proper movement of the controller at each operation, the position of the notches of the star-wheel corresponding with the po sitions of the contacts on the controller.

The terminals H H, which cooperate with the contacts e 0, carried by the controller, are so supported as to insure proper contact and also to be readily removable whenever the removal of any one of them becomes necessary. To this end each terminal H is provided with a slightly-concaved shoe 71/ for contact with the controller and, as shown in Fig. 24:, with trunnions It h, which are supported in open bearings 7L2 If in a metallic block it, which in turn is secured to and insulated from the frame of the controller. A spring it" is mounted on the block and bears upon the terminal to press it toward the controller-bod y, the extent of ,the movement being limited by a toe 1L5, which abuts against a stop h, fixed in the block h 111 this manner the proper capacity for yielding of the terminal is provided for and a perfect contact is secured, while at the same time the terminal can be removed and replaced readily at any time. The proper wire from the battery-box or other part is socured to the block l1. by means of bindingscrews or in any other suitable manner.

Should the motor be reversed suddenly while going ahead at full speed, the consequence obviously might be disastrous, and we have therefore provided devices which make it necessary to bring the controller-lever back to the initial or zero position, in which no current is supplied to the motor, before it is possible to operate the reversing-switch to change the direction of movement of the motor and of the vehicle. Such reversing device or switch, which obviously constitutes a part of the controlling means of the vehicle,

may be interconnected with the controller in any suitable way to bring about these results,

one convenient form'of such reversing device being represented in Fig. 19. As there shown,

the reversing-switch is operated by the foot, a suitable bar K being mounted to slide at the side of the vehicle-body and having afoot-piece K for the application of the foot or heel of the operator. This bar is normally held in its highest position by a suitable spring is and has loosely connected thereto the ends of the switch-levers M M, by the shifting of which the direction of the current through the fields and armature of the motor is reversed in a manner well understood and clearly indicated in Fig. 1. In all positions ofthe controller,

except its initial or zero position, the bar 'K is held from movement by engagement with a dog is, which is pivoted near the bar, and under the influence of a suitable spring 70 I bears upon the periphery of a disk 70 secured to the shaft of the controller E. The ,said

disk 70 is formed with a notch 70*, which in the initial position of the controller is in line with the end of the dog k and permits such movement of the dog under the influence of the spring 70 as is suflicient to release the bar K.

. As soon as the controller E is shifted again from the zero position, the reversing switchbar K being meanwhile held down by the foot of the. operator, the dog I is pressed back by the inclined end 70 of the'notch in the disk Z0 over theend of the reversing switch-bar K, thereby preventing a release of said reversing switch-bar until the controller is again brought to the initial or zero position.

It will be observed that the spring always normally brings the reversing-switch back at zero to go-ahead position, so that the driver may be certain always as to the direction in which the vehicle will move and so that he is required to operate the reversing-switch only for the purpose of backing. f

In order to enable the action of the controller to, be fully understood, the various conconnection with the terminals, the terminals CF21? and CFlN will be connected by the con tact at the extreme right in the first-group of Fig. 18, thereby connecting the fields of the motor in series. At the same time the eight contacts at the left of said first group,

motor the lowest speed.

which are connected in alternation to form two groups, as clearly shown, will thereby connect all of the batteries in parallel. This connection of the batteries and the fields, which is represented in Fig. 20, will give the In the second group of contacts the connection of the field remains as before, whileby connecting the eight contacts, as clearly shown in the second group of Fig. 18, the four boxes of the battery will be connected in two sets in parallel, with the two boxes'in each set in series. The connections are represented in Fig. 21 and will give the'second speed to the motor. In the third position of'the controller the contacts of the third group of Fig. 18 will connect the fields in series as before and all of the batteries in series also. These connections, which are represented in Fig. 22, will give the third speed to the motor. In the fourth position of-the controller the batteries are connected in series, as in the third position, but by the two contacts at the right in the fourth group of Fig. 18 the fields of the motor are connected in parallel, as shown in Fig. 23,.which will give the fourth or highest speed to the motor.

The general nature and mode of application as Well as the construction and operation of our improvements will be readily understood without further explanation herein.

It will also be understood that, especially as to the several mechanical devices, we have merely selected the particular forms shown in the drawings for purposes of explanation. It will also be obvious that the several features of our improvement are not necessarily associated in asingle structure, but are capable of use to a greater or less extent independently of each other and in other structures and in other relations than those shown in the drawings.

We claim as our invention 1. In amotor-vehicle, the combination with .a battery, a motor and controller and electrical connections intermediate of the battery and motor and a handle for operating the controller, of a main-line conductor for transmitting electrical energy from the battery to the controller, and a cut-out, independent of the controller, comprising a' bodily-movable member constituting a current-carrying portion of the circuit and readily removable to prevent transmission of energy between the battery and the controller.

2. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with a battery, a motor, a controller and electrical connections therefor, of a bodily-removable emergency member interposed in the main clrcuit, said member constituting a readilyremovable current-carrying portion of the main or power circuit of the vehicle.

3. In amotor-vehicle, the combination with a battery, a motor, a controller and electrical connections therefor, of a bodily-removable emergency member interposed in the main cir- IIO cuit between the controller and motor, said member constituting a readily-removable current-carrying portion of the main or power circuit of the vehicle.

4. In combination with a second battery, charging-terminals and connections therefor, and a meter in electrical connection with said battery to indicate the extent to which the battery is charged and having a moving part, of a spring-operated cut-out interposed in the circuit and forming a connection between the battery and charging-terminals, an electromagnet adapted to release the spring-operated cut-out, and a shunt-circuit including the electromagnet and the movable part of the meter whereby the former is energized upon movement of the latter to a predetermined position.

5. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with a body having a compartment adapted to receive storage batteries, of conductors arranged within the body and adjacent to the Walls of the compartment and having flexible ends of unequal length and a battery-box having exposed terminals adapted to be coupled to the flexible terminals of the conductors.

6. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with a body having a compartment adapted to receive storage batteries, of conductors arranged Within the body and adjacent to the Walls of the compartment and having flexible ends with plugs of unequal size, and a batterybox having terminal sockets of unequal size adapted to receive respectively the plugs of unequal size.

7. Inamotor-vehicle, the combination with a body having a compartment adapted to receive storage batteries, of conductors arranged Within the body and adjacent to the walls of the compartment and having flexible ends of unequal length and terminal plugs of unequal size, and a battery-box having termi nal sockets of unequal size adapted to receive respectively the plugs of unequal size.

8. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a body, battery-boxes supported by said body and having each its terminals unsymmetrically disposed thereon, and connections secured to the body and having loose ends of unequal length.

9. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a body, battery-boxes supported by said body and having each its socket-terminals, connectors secured to the body and having loose ends, and a plug with a shank secured to each loose end and formed to lit the correspondingsocket.

10. A battery-box having the terminals exposed at one end of the box and connected respectively to opposite ends of the series of cells, said box having a groove sunk in one upper edge and the connection between one terminal and the remote end of the series of cells laid in said groove.

11. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of abod y, a motor, circuit connections, the terminal portionsot said connections being flexible and of unequal length, and a lmttery-box in said body and having its terminals separated for connection with said terminal portions respectively.

12. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a body, a battery-box supported by said body and having its terminals separated, a conductor secured to the body and having separated, flexible ends, each flexible end being adapted to reach only its respective terminal on the battery-box.

13. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a body, a battery-box supported by said body and having its terminals separated, currentcarrying means secured to the body and having flexible ends extending from separated points upon the body, each end being adapted to reach only its respective terminal on the battery-box.

14:. In amotor-vehicle, the combination 01 a body, battery-boxes supported by said body and having each its terminal separated, and a plurality of conductors secured to the body and having each separated, flexible ends, the said flexible ends beingadaptcd to reach only the respective terminals on the correspomling battery-box.

15. The combination with a battery and charging-terminals therefor of difl'erentsizes, of a handle, two plugs of difl'erent sizes secured thereto and corresponding to said terminals, and connections from said plugs to the charging-wires.

16. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with the body, battery and motor, of a controller comprising a rotary body portion and means for rotating it, said body portion bearing a series of contacts, contacts forming the terminals for the battery and motor connections adapted to cooperate with the contacts of the controller, said terminal contacts comprising a pivoted part having trunnions cooperating with blocks having open bearings and springs normally pressing said terminal contacts into operative position to engage the contacts of the controller, whereby said terminals are loosely mounted on and bodily rcmovable from the controller-frame, without removal of other parts.

17. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with the body, battery and motor, of a controller comprising a rotary body portion and means for rotating it, said body portion bearing aseries of contacts, the contacts forming the terminals for the battery, and motor connections adapted to cooperate with the contacts of the controller, such terminal contacts comprising a pivoted part, springs normally pressing said terminal contacts into operative position to engage the contacts of the con troller, and stops to limit the movement of the terminal contacts.

18. In a motor-vehicle, the con'ibination of a body portion having a seat, and a compartment below the seat, storage batteries and a motor actuated thereby for propelling the vehicle, a controlling device arranged wholly Within the compartmentand below the seat, an operating-handle for said controlling device projecting through an aperture in the seat, a reversing-switch cooperating with said controlling-device to determine the direction of movement of the vehicle, means for operating said switch, and a press or lever projecting from the compartment.

19. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a body portion having a seat and a compartment below the seat, storage batteries and a motor actuated thereby for propelling the vehicle, a rotary controller-drum arranged within the compartment and below the seat and having an operating-handle pivoted substantiallyr'in the plane of the seat and extending beyond it, and a reversing-switch cooperating with said controller to determine the direction of movement of the vehicle, said reversing-switch having a toot-operated lever projecting from the compartment and below the seat,

20. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a body portion having a seat and a compartment below the seat, storage batteries, and a motor actuated thereby for propelling the vehicle, a controlling device arranged within the compartment and below the seat and having an operating-handle pivoted transversely of the vehicle and projecting upwardly above the,

I plane of the seat and a reversing-switch cooperating with the controlling device to determine the direction of movement of the vehicle, said reversing-switch having an operating-lever located below the level and immediately in front of the seat. 1

21. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a body portion, having a seat and a compartmentvbelow the seat for storage batteries, a motor actuated thereby for propelling the vehicle, and vehicle-controlling means arranged within the compartment and below the seat and having an operating-handle pivoted transversely of the vehicle and projecting upwardly above the plane of the seat and an electrical reversing device to determine the direction of movement of the vehicle, said reversing device having an operating-lever located below the level and immediately in front of the seat.

22. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a body portion having. a seat and a compartment'below the seat, storage batteries and'a motor actuated thereby for propelling the vehicle, a controlling device arranged within the compartment and below the seat and having an operating-handle pivoted transversely of the vehicle and projecting upwardly above the plane of the seat, a reversing-switch cooperating with the controlling device to determine the direction of movement of the vehicle, said reversing-switch having an operatdiately in front of the seat, and an emergencyswitch operableto break the main power-circuit of the vehicle, said switch being located switch against movement when the controller 1 is in any but a cut-off position, and adapted to permit the'reversing-switch to return to its normal position whenever the controller is at its zero or cut-off position.

7 24:. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a controller having a movable part adapted by its position to vary the supply of current to the motor, a reversing-switch cooperating with said controller to determine the direction of movement of the vehicle, said reversingswitch being normally held in a go-ahead po-- sition, a lock interposed between the reversing-switch and the controller adapted to lock the reversing-switch against movement when the controller is in any but a cut-off position, and adapted to permit the reversing-switch to return to its normal position whenever the controller is at its zero or out-off position.

25. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of vehicle-controlling means comprising a movable part adapted by its position to vary the supply of current to the motor and an electrical reversing device cooperating with the motor to determine the direction of movement of the vehicle and means cooperating with the movable part to throw said device into operative position when the movable part is in vehicle-controlling means comprising a movable part adapted by its position to vary the supply of current to the motor and an electrical reversing device cooperating with the motor to determine the direction of movement of the vehicle, said reversing device being n'orm'ally held in a goahead position, a foot-operated lever to throw said device into. operative position, and means whereby such operative position of the reversing device occurs only when the movable part is at a cut-off position.

27. In a motor-vehicle, the combination of a motor and a storage battery for operating it, a controller having a movable part and ahandle for operating it, a reversing-switch located adjacent to the controller, a cam mounted upon the rotary part of the controller, a lock interposed between the cam and the reversing-switch and operated by the cam to lock or release the switch, and means for returning the reversing-switch to its go-ahead position when the cam and lock are in their normal positions.

28. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a motor and a storage battery supplying energy to the motor, of a controller adapted to control the flow of current from the battery to the motor and comprising a drum, contacts mounted upon the drum and secured to its surface, connections between the contacts of the drum and means for retaining said connections beyond the surface of the drum.

29. In a motor-vehicle, the combination with a motor and a source of energyfor operating the motor,of a controller adapted to control the flow of energy to the motor, said controller having a rotary supporting-cylinder, eonta cts mounted upon and secured to the surface of the cylinder, connections intermediate of the contacts and means for retaining said connections above the surface of the cylinder and below the surface of the contacts.

30. The combination with an electric vehicle, having a battery-compartment adapted to receive a storage battery, of charging-terminals for said battery comprising socket members of different sizes, and a chargingplug comprising a handle and a plurality of plugs of different sizes, each insulated from the other and connected with the main-line circuit, said plugs adapted to cooperate with the terminal sockets of corresponding size.

31. The combination with an electric vehicle, of a storage battery and charging-terminals therefor, said terminals comprising sockets of different sizes, and a charging-plug comprising an insulated handle and plugs cooperating with the respective sockets,and electrical connections for the battery-plugs passing through the insulating-handle.

This specification signed and witnessed this 15th day of May, A. l). 1897.

HIRAM PERCY MAXIM. HARRY M. POPE. HERBERT \V. ALDEN.

In presence of- ALnnR'r P. DAY, HERMANN F. CUNTZ. 

